Texas NRCS Consultation Section 7 a 2 of ESA - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 26
About This Presentation
Title:

Texas NRCS Consultation Section 7 a 2 of ESA

Description:

'Statewide' brush management project (2005) 25 millions acres in 62 counties ... 1 reptile. 2 amphibians. 16 plants. Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:61
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 27
Provided by: susanb59
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Texas NRCS Consultation Section 7 a 2 of ESA


1
Texas NRCS Consultation Section 7 (a) (2) of ESA
  • Susan Baggett
  • State Resource Conservationist
  • USDA-NRCS, Texas

2
ESA Consultation in TX
  • Two Biological Opinions in place as result of two
    consultation processes
  • Leon River Restoration Project (2004) 773,000
    acres in 2 counties in central Texas
  • Statewide brush management project (2005) 25
    millions acres in 62 counties west of I-35 in
    Texas

3
Brief Background
  • Increased funding of Farm Bill programs
  • Locally-led processes indicated increasing
    interest in brush management
  • Culture of strong private lands rights
  • Presence of T E Species

4
Brush Management
5
GM 190.410.22
  • (e)(5) Section 7 (a)(2) of the ESA
  • (i) NRCS is required to consult with the
    Services when NRCS financial assistance will be
    provided to landowners for implementing planned
    practices for which a may affect determination
    has been made.

6
Initiate the Process
  • Working with the workgroup, NRCS assessed plant
    and animal species listed as threatened or
    endangered whose range coincided with the range
    of the 4 target brush species
  • 2 birds
  • 2 insects
  • 6 fish
  • 1 reptile
  • 2 amphibians
  • 16 plants

7
Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
8
Redberry Juniper (Juniperus smallii)
9
Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei)
10
Salt cedar (Tamarix spp.)
11
Eleven Conservation Practices Addressed in BA
  • Brush Management
  • Mechanical
  • Chemical
  • Prescribed Burning
  • Firebreak
  • Prescribed Grazing
  • Fence

12
Eleven Conservation Practices Addressed in BA -
continued
  • Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment
  • Pipeline
  • Pond
  • Range Planting
  • Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
  • Watering Facility

13
Seven 2002 Farm Bill Programs Addressed
  • Conservation Security Program
  • Environmental Quality Incentive Program
  • Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
  • Grassland Reserve Program
  • Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
  • Wetland Reserve Program
  • Wildlife Habitat Conservation Program

14
Biological Assessment
  • During the biological assessment process, the
    NRCS determined that a proposed program action -
    i.e. brush management on these four brush species
    - may affect two of the species assessed - the
    GCW and BCV
  • NRCS requested consultation from USFWS under
    Section 7(a) (2) of ESA

15
Golden-cheeked Warbler (GCW)
16
Black-capped vireo (BCV)
17
Summary of Provisions of BO
  • Specific acreages of GCW and BVC habitat allowed
    as incidental take
  • Maximum acreages set for all recovery areas
  • Reasonable and prudent measures described
  • Habitat ID and treatment guidelines established
    for BCV and GCW

18
Summary of Provisions of BO-cont.
  • Required habitat management plan written for each
    program participant by biologist of NRCS or state
    wildlife agency
  • Includes accelerated training of NRCS employees
    and partners on identification of all TE species

19
Summary of Provisions of BO -cont.
  • NRCS, landowners, and brush contractors are
    required to attend training on habitat ID and
    treatment criteria
  • Duration of biological opinion is for all
    contracts funded prior to the expiration of the
    2002 Farm Bill

20
PROCESS RECAP
  • Meeting called by state Sec of Ag
  • Workgroup formed, led by NRCS
  • NRCS worked with workgroup to develop biological
    assessment (BA)
  • BA presented to USWFS
  • USFWS issued Biological Opinion (BO)

21
Members of Consultation Workgroup w/ NRCS
  • Audubon Texas
  • Central Texas Cattlemens Association
  • Environmental Defense
  • Texas Cooperative Extension
  • Texas Department of Agriculture
  • Texas Farm Bureau
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Texas Wildlife Association
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service

22
Time Frame
  • Leon River Restoration Project 80 days
  • Statewide Brush Management Project 256 days
  • Varied with size of project area, complexity of
    resources, amount of available resource
    information and experience level of key players

23
Is it worth the investment?
  • Absolutely, unequivocally YES!
  • It is a WIN-WIN process
  • Now I just have to convince the rest of the State
    Leadership Team with NRCS in TX of that

24
KEYS TO SUCCESS
  • Partnerships
  • Trust
  • Communication
  • Willingness to collaborate
  • High-quality technical information
  • Strong desire to move forward
  • Ability to implement provisions

25
Many thanks to
  • Gary Valentine, State Biologist for NRCS in Texas
    (retired 11/1/2004)

26
Thank you for listening
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com